Scotland's trade with the UK is worth four times as much as our trade with the EU, figures showed yesterday.

The statistics blow a hole in the SNP ’s claim that Scotland would be better off independent than being forced out of the European single market by Brexit.

Scottish sales of goods and services to England, Wales and Northern Ireland totalled almost £49.8billion in 2015 – £37.5billion less than the £12.3billion of exports to all the other 27 other EU countries.

Tory Scots Secretary David Mundell said yesterday: “The figures show the UK is the vital union for Scotland and highlight the importance of maintaining the UK market and preventing any new barriers to doing business across the UK as we leave the EU.”